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Introduction
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was invited to participate in this year's Central New York Model Airplane
Forum. The 22nd annual forum was held in Syracuse, NY on February 1st and
is the premier, upstate NY non-flying winter event. The forum is sponsored
and organized by the two area clubs; the Aero Radio Club of Syracuse (ARCS)
and the Syracuse Thunderbirds Aero Radio Society (STARS). It was a non-profit
forum with goals of having some mid-winter fun, sharing of ideas, and education.
Although the forum has a traditional history in glow-powered and giant scale
models, it has recently focused more attention on all aspects of electric
flight. Forum coordinator, Jules Fried, created a well-managed event that
benefited over 10 active clubs in the local modeling community. |
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Event
coordinato, Jules Fried, managed
the AMA sanctioned Central New York Model Airplane Forum in Syracuse,
NY.
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The
host clubs; the ARCS and the STARS provide information flyers, refreshments,
and 3 flight simulators for visitors to sample.
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The
STARS club lawn mower can take flight after trimming the runway.
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Electric
Flight Participants:
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I was honored to participate in the forum but I wasn't the only electric
enthusiast present. Tom Cimato of MaxCim motors, accompanied by pilot/builder
Paul Martin, gave demonstrations and explained the approach for replacing
.60 and .90 sized glow engines with high-end electric brushless motors.
They even brought a few ¼ scale electric-powered models to show. |
Paul
Martin and MaxCim owner, Tom Cimato (right), demonstrate their Graupner
ShowFlyer conversion from a glow motor to quiet and clean electric power. |
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Dan
Hurd from Dynamic Web Enterprises (DWE) holds a
1.5oz Funcraft rubber-powered P-51 converted to R/C.
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On
the other end of the electric spectrum, Dan Hurd from Dynamic Web Enterprises
demonstrated the lasted micro-flight technology in 1oz models using the
RFFS100 module powered by a single Lithium Polymer cell. It was a great
contrast from the ¼ scale electric planes and demonstrated the dynamic
range that quiet electric flight has to offer. |
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Nick Ziroli
presented both giant scale and electric models to the visitors. Nick has
many decades of R/C experience and was eager to share it with everyone.
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AMA
District II VP, Dave Mathewson talked about the latest changes at the AMA
and calmed many concerns about the topic of limiting travel with R/C gear
due to terrorism concerns. Dave's presence showed a strong affiliation between
the AMA and the 22-year-old forum.
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Demonstrations:
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brought a range of electric models that included micro-flyers, slow-flyers,
park-flyers, and a few larger conversions of .30 and .60 size glow planes.
My Graupner ShowFlyer from Hobby Lobby uses a MaxCim 13Y brushless motor
on 26 NiCd cells. We discussed the fact that soon, it will be converted
to Lithium power packs which will shed over 1 pound in flying weight and
triple the flight duration! |
An assortment
of micro-flyers from DWE all use the RFFS100 module and a KP-00 motor.
The purple "Widget" in the center was modeled after the Hobby-Lobby
Wingo. |
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The talk of Lithium cells was a big attraction at this years forum. I
demonstrated equal capacity packs of NiCd, NiMH, and Lithium Polymer technology.
Almost everyone was amazed at the drastic reduction in weight for the
same given capacity and current delivery! Alternatively, the technology
change from NiCd to NiMH to Lithium could also be used to increase the
capacity for the same given weight. My examples included Graupner 500AR
NiCd cells, HE cell NiMH cells, and a Kokam Lithium Polymer pack from
Bishop Power Products.
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Equal
size and weight 1100mAh, HE cell, NiMH packs were compared to Graupner
500AR NiCd packs.
A simple battery pack change can now double your Speed 400 flight time!
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The
tiny #47 Wondermagnet is no larger than the size of a modeling knife tip
and can be glued to the coil of a magnetic actuator to offset the control
surface weight. The dual aileron Sky Runner micro-flyer was used to demonstrate
how the #47 Wondermagnet applied to the right aileron will offset the
droop from the control surface. The left aileron has no magnet install
for comparison
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Various techniques for improving aspects of micro-flight were shown. One
example was the very tiny #47 magnet from Wondermagnet.com. The magnet is
just visible on the tip of a razor knife but can be glued to the coil of
a magnetic actuator to eliminate the drooping effect of the control surface
for self-centering. On a micro-flight design with dual ailerons, this allows
two magnetic actuators to be tied to a single channel on an RFFS100 module
by eliminating any offset. The tiny magnets are typically glued to the coil
using a very small drop of medium CA. The dual aileron Sky Runner micro-flyer
from Harbor Freight was used to demonstrate how a #47 Wondermagnet applied
to the right aileron provides a static offset from the droop from the control
surface. The left aileron has no magnet installed for comparison. When both
magnets are installed, the ailerons can be tied into a single receiver channel
for control. |
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New
style "outrunner" motors like the AXI 282010 Rotating Can Brushless
motor were demonstrated. This little 5.8 ounce motor is only 1.38"
in diameter and 2.25" long, not counting motor shaft. You attach
the front of the motor to the backside of the firewall and the 5mm prop
shaft comes through the firewall. The entire motor case rotates providing
a very high torque and allows this motor to drive large diameter props
without using a gearbox. My AXI 282010 motor can spin a 12x6 prop on 10-cells
at 8500 RPMs!
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New
style "outrunner" motors like the AXI 282010 Rotating Can Brushless
motor were demonstrated. This little 5.8 ounce motor is only 1.38"
in diameter and 2.25" long, not counting motor shaft. You attach
the front of the motor to the backside of the firewall and the 5mm prop
shaft comes through the firewall. The entire motor case rotates providing
a very high torque and allows this motor to drive large diameter props
without using a gearbox
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Paul
Weigand detailed the 1909 ship with a hand-carved and
painted wooden "Orville" pilot. |
The
1909 Wright Flyer is from Dare was designed by
Pat Trittle and featured in the March issue of Quiet Flyer. |
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R/Cer, Paul Weigand, built this beautiful Wright Flyer from Dare that was
designed by Pat Trittle and featured in the March issue of Quiet Flyer.
Paul even detailed the 1909 ship with a hand-carved "Orville"
pilot. |
MaxCim
Motors had an active display of a MaxN32 brushless motor turning a prop,
enclosed in a Plexiglas display case. The interesting thing about this is
that the motor runs all day on a single battery charge. It is usually running
at a low speed that demonstrates the smoothness and can be throttled up
at any time, producing enough thrust to noticeably deflect the ¼"
plexiglas case that the motor is mounted too. Throughout these demonstrations
viewers are given the opportunity to feel that the controller and motor
are as cool as they should be, graphically illustrating very efficient part
throttle operation. Viewers can also run the throttle to see the smooth
and linear response. The active demo was a nice touch of professionalism
by MaxCim motor designer, Tom Cimato.
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One
of the give-away tables provided free copies of Quiet Flyer magazines,
Hobby Lobby catalogs, and E-Zone flyers. The black EPP foam Potensky
Cobra and Graupner GeeBee Sportster also drew plenty of attention.
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P-38 Lightning twin profile plane was designed by Paul Weigand.
The 28" span bomber uses two N20 motors and 2 1/4" props
from the ducted fan thrusters used on the Blimps. The model is about
5 years old and has flown around 100 flights, free flight, both
indoors and out. It weighs in at 44 grams with the RFFS 100 system
and single 170 mil LiPoly cell.
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Paul
Martin's SIG Kadet LT-40 is powered by a MaxCim 13Y brushless motor,
MEC Superbox, and an APC e-prop
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A
new Potensky Cobra has the float option installed and a custom trim
detail. The 31" span aerobatic ARF model can hover on the stock
geared Speed 300 power system.
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Summary:
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The increased
focus on electric flight at this year's Central New York Model Airplane
Forum was evidence that this aspect of R/C flying is gaining in popularity.
Pre-packaged systems and products have taken some of the fear out of electric
modeling. By gathering additional information, first-hand from participants
at the forum, it will help open the doors for many more in the local modeling
community who have the desire to understand electric flight.
I was honored
to participate in the forum this year and plan on attending next year.
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Article
References:
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Bishop Power Products at: www.b-p-p.com
Dare Design & Engineering at: www.darehobby.com/index.htm
Dynamic Web Enterprises at: www.smallrc.com/
eDogFight at: www.edogfight.com/
Hobby Lobby Int. at: www.hobby-lobby.com/
MaxCim Motors, Inc. at: www.maxcim.com/index.html
Radical RC at: www.radicalrc.com
Funcraft Models at: www.storeofwonder.com/
Harbor Freight Sky Runner at: www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=43678
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